System and method for providing an avatar service in a mobile environment

ABSTRACT

Provided is an avatar service system and method for providing an avatar in a service provided in a mobile environment. The avatar service system may include a request receiving unit to receive a request for the avatar to perform an action, an image data selecting unit to select image data and metadata for body layers forming a body of the avatar in response to the request, and based on the selected body image data to further select image data for a plurality of item layers disposed on the body of the avatar, and an avatar action processing unit to generate action data for applying the action of the avatar based on the selected image data and metadata.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2012-0008570, filed on Jan. 27, 2012, which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an avatarservice system and method for providing an avatar in a service providedin a mobile environment.

2. Discussion of the Background

An avatar provided in a service through a wired and wireless network isconfigured by a combination of clothes, a face, and accessories.However, an avatar in a conventional art is stationary, or even whenmobile, the avatar moves as a single unit irrespective of thecombination of the clothes and accessories.

The avatar in the conventional art includes layers of clothing, a face,and accessories. When the avatar is configured by a combination ofmotionless images or is mobile, an issue of the clothes or accessoriesdisappearing, that is, an issue of broken images arises. Also, anadditional plug-in, for example, flash or “unity three-dimension (3D)”may need to be installed to implement an action of the avatar in ananimation.

A messenger is an acquaintance-based service, and supports a text-basedchat, absent an avatar. The messenger service adopts a format ofrepresenting a user by a predetermined image in lieu of an avatar.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an avatar servicesystem and method for storing and maintaining metadata for representingan action and a plurality of rotated images based on an action for aplurality of layers forming an avatar in a database, and for expressingvarious actions such as a motion, a facial expression, an emotion, andthe like of the avatar by providing the metadata and the plurality ofrotated images corresponding to the action in response to a request.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an avatar servicesystem and method for resolving an issue of a broken image due to arotated image and for improving an overall quality of the avatar serviceby forming additional item layers for items such as an accessory,clothes, and the like to be added to an avatar, as well as layersforming a body of the avatar, and by generating and maintaining aplurality of rotated images for a plurality of additional item layers toprovide the plurality of rotated images for the plurality of additionalitem layers suitable for actions of layers forming the body.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an avatar servicesystem and method for engaging an interest of a user by enabling theuser to select an avatar in a chat service and by expanding a range ofmaximizing the avatar, for expressing various emotions of the userrealistically through an action of the avatar rather than a statictext-based chat, and for adding a sense of liveliness to a chat.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an avatar servicesystem and method for providing users with a service that enables arandom chat with other users through a random chat function, forverifying a previous chat or an action of an avatar through anadditional chat log while using the avatar, and for adding a sense ofliveliness to a chat by allowing the avatar to move.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an avatar servicesystem and method for automatically expressing an action such as anemotion or a motion of an avatar by identifying a word among chatcontent, for providing a speech bubble subject to change according tothe chat content, rather than an identical speech bubble, and forallowing a user to select the speech bubble of the user.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose an avatarservice system for providing an avatar in a service provided in a mobileenvironment, the system including: a request receiving unit configuredto receive a request for an avatar to perform an action; an image dataselecting unit configured to select image data and metadata for bodylayers forming a body of the avatar from a database in response to therequest, and based on the selected body image data configured to furtherselect image data and metadata for item layers disposed on the body ofthe avatar from the database; and an avatar action processing unitconfigured to generate action data for applying the action to the avatarbased on the selected image data and metadata.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose an avatarservice method to be executed on a computer for providing an avatar in aservice provided in a mobile environment, the method including:receiving a request for an avatar to perform an action; selecting, withthe computer, image data and metadata for body layers forming a body ofthe avatar in response to the request, and based on the selected bodyimage data further selecting image data and metadata with respect toitem layers disposed on the body of the avatar; and generating actiondata for applying the action to the avatar based on the selected imagedata and metadata.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose an avatarservice method performed by a terminal provided with an avatar in aservice provided in a mobile environment, the method including:displaying an avatar on a screen; transmitting a request to a server forthe avatar to perform an action; and receiving action data for theaction of the avatar from the server, wherein in response to therequest, the server selects image data and metadata for body layersforming a body of the avatar, and based on the selected body image datathe server further selects image data and metadata for item layersdisposed on the body of the avatar, and the server generates action databased on the selected image data for applying the action to the avatar.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media having stored thereon a computer programthat, when executed by a terminal including a display and one or moreprocessors, causes the one or more processors to perform acts thatprovide an avatar in a service in a mobile environment, the actsincluding: displaying an avatar on a screen; transmitting a request to aserver for the avatar to perform an action; and receiving action datafor the action of the avatar from the server, wherein in response to therequest, the server selects image data and metadata for body layersforming a body of the avatar, and based on the selected body image datathe server further selects image data and metadata for item layersdisposed on the body of the avatar, and the server generates action databased on the selected image data for applying the action to the avatar.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention, and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an environment in which a terminal and a server areconnected through a network according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a database according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates image data for a plurality of layers according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates layers forming a body of an avatar to perform anaction of the avatar according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process of extracting image data from a databaseaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates metadata according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an action of an avatar according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a front and a back of an avatar including aplurality of layers according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a body layer and item layers corresponding to aframework layer displaying a framework of an avatar according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates an avatar service provided on a mobile networkaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates an avatar service provided on a mobile networkaccording exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates an animal-shaped avatar is provided according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates an item category structure of an avatar according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates an avatar represented in a vehicle according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a chat stage according to exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a chat log according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates a method for providing a chat log according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a random chat function according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a chat room, a server, and a word database accordingto exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates speech bubbles in various shapes according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates speech bubbles in various shapes used according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates an inner configuration of an avatar service systemaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates an avatar service method conducted by an avatarservice system according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 25 illustrates an inner configuration of a terminal according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 26 illustrates an avatar service method conducted by a terminalaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the inventionare shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so thatthis disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey the scope of theinvention to those skilled in the art. It will be understood that forthe purposes of this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” can beconstrued as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or moreitems X, Y, and Z (e.g., XYZ, XZ, XYY, YZ, ZZ). Throughout the drawingsand the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the samedrawing reference numerals are understood to refer to the same elements,features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of theseelements may be exaggerated for clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentdisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. doesnot denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotes the presence ofat least one of the referenced item. The use of the terms “first”,“second”, and the like does not imply any particular order, but they areincluded to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the termsfirst, second, etc. does not denote any order or importance, but ratherthe terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element fromanother. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, regions,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof. Although some features may be described with respect toindividual exemplary embodiments, aspects need not be limited theretosuch that features from one or more exemplary embodiments may becombinable with other features from one or more exemplary embodiments.

In addition, embodiments described in the specification are whollyhardware, and may be partially software or wholly software. In thespecification, “unit”, “module”, “device”, “system”, or the likerepresents a computer related entity such as hardware, combination ofhardware and software, or software. For example, in the specification,the unit, the module, the device, the system, or the like may be anexecuted process, a processor, an object, an executable file, a threadof execution, a program, and/or a computer, but are not limited thereto.For example, both of an application which is being executed in thecomputer and a computer may correspond to the unit, the module, thedevice, the system, or the like in the specification.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected to” another element, it can be directly connected to theother element, or intervening elements may be present.

FIG. 1 illustrates a terminal and a server connected through a networkaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A terminal110 and a server 120 are connected via a network 130.

The terminal 110 may be a wired communication terminal or a wirelesscommunication terminal. The terminal 110 may communicate with the server120 through the network 130 using a communication module included in theterminal 110. For example, when the terminal 110 is the wirelesscommunication terminal, the network 130 may be a wireless communicationnetwork using a base station, a gateway, and the like, or may be awireless communication network for connecting to the Internet using anaccess point. When the terminal 110 is the wired communication terminal,the network 130 may be a wired communication network connected to theInternet using a local area network (LAN). Further descriptions of thewireless and wired communication network will be omitted since suchcommunication technologies are well known in the field of the presentinvention.

The server 120 may be a system for providing an avatar service, a chatservice, an avatar service in a social networking service (SNS), asocial network game (SNG) service, or a combination thereof to theterminal 110. The server 120 may provide an avatar service to theterminal 110, and the avatar service may provide an avatar allowingvarious actions for a plurality of layers used for combining avatars.For example, the server 120 may be a system for providing the chatservice using an avatar to the terminal 110. The server 120 may supportrealistic expression of emotions of a user through an avatar by enablingvarious avatar actions.

FIG. 2 illustrates a database according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention. A database 200 may enable various actions of anavatar to be performed and may store and maintain metadata 210 withrespect to an action of an avatar, and image data 220 for a plurality oflayers for forming an avatar. The database 210 may be included in theserver 120, or included in an additional system that provides data tothe server 120. The server 120 may extract the metadata 210 and theimage data 220 necessary from the database 200 to provide the extractedmetadata 210 and the image data 220 to the terminal 110 of FIG. 1. Forexample, the server 120 of FIG. 2 may compose the image data 220 for aplurality of frames based on the metadata 210, and provide a composedanimation to the terminal 110. The server 120 may provide the extractedmetadata210 and the image data 210 to the terminal 110, and may composethe image data 220 based on the metadata 210 on the terminal 110 todisplay the plurality of frames. The avatar service system and methodmay represent an avatar of various actions through a scheme of composingthe image data 220 for a plurality of layers based on the metadata 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates image data for a plurality of layers according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustratesrotated images showing an object that is rotated about an imaginarycentral axis 310. Each of the images is from a fixed viewpoint. Therotated images can be generated by either rotating the object or thecamera. The images can be generated by drawing, for example, with acomputer, an artist, or a combination thereof. The images can be fixedimages of a layer, where each image is from a different viewing angleabout an imaginary axis. For example, 360 rotated images may begenerated over a range of zero degrees to 360 degrees, based on thecentral axis 310 for a single layer, in a rotation unit of 1 degree. Therotation unit may be to a different value, for example, 2 degrees, 5degrees, or the like. Central axis 310 is illustrated as a cross-hairand represents an axis perpendicular to the view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates layers forming a body of an avatar for an action ofthe avatar according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.The body of the avatar may be divided into many layers. For example, theavatar of FIG. 4 can include ten (10) layers including a head (Headimage area), a torso (Body image area), an upper right arm (Arm_r_1image area), a lower right arm (Arm_r_2 image area), an upper left arm(Arm_l_1 image area), a lower left arm (Arm_l_2 image area), an upperright leg (Leg_r_1 image area), a lower right leg (Leg_r_2 image area),an upper left leg(Leg_l_1 image area), and a lower left leg(Leg_l_2image area). The layers may each include a central axis, and may berotated based on the central axis. The avatar may include or may bedivided into more or less layers. The avatar can be divided into morelayers to provide a more detailed motion to the avatar.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process of extracting image data from a databaseaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 5illustrates 360 rotated images for each of a plurality layers may bestored in the database as image data. The rotated images may beextracted and provided for expressing a requested action. In theexemplary database of FIG. 5, the 360 rotated images may be stored from1 degree to 360 degrees in a unit of one degree for the plurality oflayers. “Layer code” may be an identifier to identify the particularlayer from the plurality of layers associated with the image. FIG. 5illustrates extracting rotated images including a range of 59 degrees to64 degrees (illustrated by the dashed boxes) from among rotated imagesof a layer including rotated images ranging from 0 degrees to 360degrees. Exemplary layers in FIG. 5 are named “bd_x_a1_01,” “bd_x_a2_00”and “bd_x_a5_00.”

The plurality of layers may be rotated about the central axis based onan application of a rotated image, and the plurality of layers may bemoved based on a location of the central axis on a screen. Informationon the rotation of the plurality of layers or the location of thecentral axis of the plurality of layers may be included in metadata. Forexample, for the plurality of layers the metadata may includeinformation, such as, coordinates, coordinates of the location thecentral axis of the rotated image, the rotated images angle, a rotationvalue.

FIG. 6 illustrates metadata according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention. An exemplary structure “ani01.xml” may provide themetadata in a form of an extensible markup language (XML). The structurename “ani01.xml” can be an identifier of a requested action. A value of“scene frame” may be an identifier for identifying a frame. “Sceneframe=1” may be a first frame of a corresponding action. “Layer code”may be an identifier for identifying a layer as described in thepreceding. An identifier “z_order” may correspond to a depth of layersin a frame. For example, as a value of “z_order” increases, a layer maybe displayed at a front of a screen. An identifier “angle” maycorrespond to a rotated image to be applied. For example, “angle=0” mayindicate that a rotated image corresponding to 360 degrees may beapplied. Identifiers “offset_x” and “offset_y” may indicate coordinates.Such coordinates may be absolute coordinates corresponding to thecoordinates of the screen, and may also be relative coordinates withrespect to a standard location of an area in which an avatar isrepresented.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the terminal 110 is provided with anavatar service by connecting to the server 120 through the network 130,the server 120 may receive a request associated with an action of anavatar from the terminal 110. The server 120 may compose an image of anavatar with a requested action to provide the composed image to theterminal 110.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the server 120 mayextract the metadata 210 and the image data 220 associated with theaction requested from the database 200 to provide the extracted metadata210 and the extracted image data 220 to the terminal 110. The server 120may display the image data 220 for a plurality of frames based on themetadata 210 on the terminal 110. For example, the metadata 210 may beprovided through a wired and wireless network in the form of XML asdescribed in FIG. 6. The server 120 may generate an XML file using themetadata 210 and the image data 220 to provide the generated xml file tothe terminal 110. The server 120 may add a network address for the imagedata 220 to the XML file provided to the terminal 110. The terminal 110may process the XML file through a standard network protocol, such as, aHyper Text Markup Language (HTML) 5. The image data 220 may be providedto the terminal 110 through the network address added to the XML file.

FIG. 7 illustrates an action of an avatar 700 according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. The action of the avatar 700 maybe determined based on coordinates and a rotation value of layersforming the avatar 700. The coordinates and the rotation value ofrotated images of the layers may be determined for a plurality offrames, and when the plurality of frames are displayed on a screen insuccession, an animation based on the action of the avatar 700 may beprovided to a user. Also, the location of the avatar 700 may be moved byuniformly changing all coordinates values forming the avatar. Exemplaryarrows included in FIG. 7 indicate some of the rotations of variouslayers that are feasible, such as, rotations of the lower arms and/orlower legs. Not shown in FIG. 7 are illustrations of movements of otherlayers of avatar 700, for example, the head, the body, the upper arms,the upper legs.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a front and a back, respectively, of an avatarincluding a plurality of layers according to exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention. FIGS. 8 and 9 are examples in which an exteriorof the avatar is provided in a form of a layer structure. FIGS. 8 and 9are examples in which an exterior of the avatar is provided in a form ofa layer structure. A central axis may be for a plurality of layers, anda plurality of rotated images may exist based on the central axis for asingle layer. The plurality of rotated images may be stored as the imagedata 220 for the plurality of layers in the database 200 as described inthe preceding. The plurality of rotated images may exist for theplurality of layers, respectively, and the server 120 may providerotated images and metadata required for an action of the avatar. Asdescribed in the foregoing, the terminal 110 may display the rotatedimages by combining the rotated images based on the metadata. The layersvisible in the front view of FIG. 8 can be named, for example: face-faceshape, accessory-umbrella, face-nose, face-lip, face-back ear, upperbody-back upper arm, body-back upper arm, body-back lower arm,accessory-umbrella handle, body-back thigh, body-back calf, shoe-shoefor back calf, hair-front hair, face-eyebrow, face-eye, face-front ear,upper body-front upper arm, body-torso, body-front upper arm, body-frontlower arm, upper body-center, lower body-center, body-front calf,shoe-shoe for front calf. The layers visible in the back view of FIG. 9can be named, for example: accessory-umbrella, hair-back hair,face-front ear, face-face shape, upper body-front upper arm, body-frontupper arm, body-back upper arm, body-front thigh, body-front calf,shoe-shoe for front calf, upper body-center, upper body-back upper arm,body-back lower arm, body-torso, lower body-center, body-back thigh,body-back calf, shoe-shoe for back calf.

FIG. 10 illustrates a body layer and item layers corresponding to aframework layer displaying a framework of an avatar according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. The avatar may indicatethat a body disposed within the framework and other items disposedwithin the framework may move simultaneously based on an action of theframework. A layer representing the framework may change coordinates andan angle of the body layer and the item layer corresponding tocoordinates and an angle to which the body layer and the item layer aremoved, such that an issue of a broken image may be prevented. Forexample, as illustrated, the framework “Framework—Front upper arm” hasdisposed with it a body “Body-Front upper arm” and an item “Upperbody-Front upper arm.”

FIG. 11 illustrates an avatar service provided via a mobile networkaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A screen1100 is an example illustrating a screen of a mobile terminal. Thescreen 1100 is an example in which an avatar is set for a representativeprofile image of an SNS, in lieu of a photo of a user. The avatar mayexpress an emotion or a state of the avatar by an action of the avatar,such as, a facial expression, a body motion, and the like.

FIG. 12 illustrates an avatar service provided via a mobile networkaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A screen1200 is an example of a chat service using an avatar. An emotion, astate, and the like of a user may be transmitted to another user throughan action of the avatar, as well as through a text-based chat. Actionsof the avatar may be provided in advance, and a selected action fromamong the provided actions may be reflected in the avatar of the user.The action of the avatar may be selected in various manners. Forexample, the action of the avatar may be selected by analyzing a textinput by the user.

In the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIGS.11 and 12, an avatar can express various actions and facial expressionswithout installing an additional program, for example, a plug-in, may besupported on a wired and wireless network. The avatar service thatenables the action of the avatar may be provided in a mobile networkservice.

Referring to FIG. 12, when an item is disposed on the avatar, an actionof the avatar may be applied to a corresponding item. When the avatarmoves, items such as clothes, accessories, and the like, disposed on theavatar may move or rotate in a manner corresponding to the action of theavatar to prevent an issue of a broken image.

In the chat service according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, a profile image of a user may be displayed together with aprofile image 1210 of another user in an area in which a chat log isdisplayed.

FIG. 13 illustrates an animal-shaped avatar provided according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 13 illustrates afirst user interface 1310 through which an animal-shaped avatar, a humanmale avatar and a human female avatar may be selected. A second userinterface 1320 allows a user to set a name of the selected avatar. Theuser interfaces may be provided to the user through an applicationinstalled on a user terminal.

FIG. 14 illustrates an item category structure of an avatar according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. An avatar system mayassign a gender to the avatar. The avatar system may generate a speciesavatar, such as, a human avatar, an animal avatar, or the like, byassigning a species property, that is, an animal characteristic, asidefrom the gender property. A virtual species may be added as the speciesproperty. An individual element may be changed or put on the avatarusing various items set, such as, an appearance, clothes, and the like,and a user may control an action of the avatar.

The application described in FIG. 13 may include at least one or more ofexemplary user interfaces (not shown). For example, user interfaces (1)to (7) are described below and may be combined with each other.

The application can include a wardrobe interface (1) for identifyingitems or actions provided to a user, or items or actions purchased bythe user. The items may include items of a face shape, an eyebrow, aneye, a nose, lips, hair, or a complexion to form a face of an avatar.The items may include clothes, accessories, or items for a pet. The petmay have a dedicated set of actions, and may also be able to move. Thewardrobe interface may display items by distinguishing the items intowearable and non-wearable based on the gender or the species of theavatar. Items or actions attributable to an avatar may be provided bycategory.

The application can include a combination interface (2) for providing apreview of various combined items.

The application can include an avatar rotating interface (3) forrotating an avatar. A user may rotate the avatar using the avatarrotating interface, and identify the avatar combined through thecombination interface.

The application can include a random combination interface (4) forcombining items at random. For example, when the random combinationinterface is selected from a highly ranked category, an application mayselect items at random from among all items of subcategories of the highrank category to combine the selected items. As another example, whenthe random combination interface is selected subsequent to beingadmitted into a category, an application may select items at random fromamong items of corresponding category to combine the selected items. Therandom combination interface may further include a function of combiningitems at random from among items held by a user, or a function ofcombining items at random from among items for sale.

The application can include an item purchase interface (5) forpurchasing items such as clothes or accessories. The item purchaseinterface may include the combination interface (2) described above.Users may combine items to an avatar of the users prior to purchasingthe items. The item purchase interface may further include a shoppingbasket interface to store selected items. The items stored through theshopping basket interface may be combined automatically in advance inthe avatar of the users. A set duration for usage may be assigned to theitems purchased.

The application can include an action purchase interface (6) forpurchasing an action able to be performed by an avatar combined withclothes. For example, a user may purchase and use an additional actionaside from a basic action provided. The action purchase interface mayinclude a pre-purchase action performance interface to provideinstructions to an avatar of a user for performing a selected actionprior to purchasing the action. An application may play an animation inwhich the avatar of the user performs an action prior to purchasing theaction to show the animation to the user.

The application can include a user interface (7) for gifting an item oran action to a user. An item held by a user may be deleted through adeletion function. When an item is deleted, a number of rewards may beprovided to the user for at least a portion of items, by introducing aconcept of recycling.

FIG. 15 illustrates an avatar represented in a vehicle according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. The mobile device may beincluded as an item to be combined to the avatar. As described in thepreceding, the avatar may be able to move, and for example, may change alocation based on an action of the avatar or an input of a user in achat stage such as a chat window or a chat room. The avatar representedin the vehicle may move in the chat stage. As used herein, the “chatwindow”, the “chat room”, and the “chat stage” may be used to refer tothe same chat environment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the server 120 may extract the metadata 210and the image data 220 necessary from the database 200 in response to arequest transmitted from the terminal 120. The request may be generatedthrough a control of an application installed in the terminal 120.

The server 120 may generate a necessary animation using the extractedmetadata 210 and the extracted image data 220, and transmit theanimation to the terminal 120. The terminal 120 may display theanimation on a corresponding service screen, such as a chat window,based on the control of the application.

The server 120 may store and maintain the generated animation for aduration. When the requested animation is stored in advance, the server120 may transmit the stored animation to the terminal 120 in response tothe request. The server 120 may extract data from the database 200, andgenerate an animation when the animation is not stored.

FIG. 16 illustrates a chat stage according to exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention. A first screen 1610 and a second screen 1620 areexamples of a screen of a mobile terminal. The first screen 1610 maydisplay avatars of a plurality of users in a chat room to which theplurality of users are connected. The first screen 1610 may display theavatars above the chat content. A user may move an avatar 1630 bysetting a location 1640 to which the avatar 1630 of the user is to bemoved. The second screen 1620 may display that the avatar 1630 is movedto the location 1640 set by the user. The location of the avatar 1630may be moved by integrally adjusting coordinates of a central axis ofrotated images forming the avatar 1630. For example, the terminal 110may transmit coordinates to which the avatar 1630 is to be moved to theserver 120, when the terminal 110 requests the server 120 to move theavatar 1630. The server 120 may control movement of the avatar 1630using the received coordinates. The server 120 may transmit the changedlocation information of the avatar 1630 to other users participating ina chat. The location of the avatar 1630 may also be changed on screensof terminals of the other users upon receiving the changed coordinatesfrom server 120.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a usermay express various emotions realistically through an action of anavatar. An avatar service may be reflected in a social networkingservice (SNS) or social network game (SNG) as well as a chat service. Inthe chat service, an interest may be attracted from a user by enablingthe user to select an avatar and by expanding a range for maximizing theavatar, and a sense of liveliness may be provided to a chat through amovement of the avatar in a chat window, rather than simply a statictext-based chat.

FIG. 17 illustrates a chat log according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention. When a chat is performed using a chat stage andavatars, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, an application may include anadditional chat log viewing interface. A screen 1700 is an example of ascreen of a mobile terminal, and illustrates the chat log beingdisplayed. The chat log may include a text input by users for chatting,and an action 1710 such as an emotion, a motion, and the like, of anavatar.

FIG. 18 illustrates a method for providing a chat log 1820 according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. When an N number ofusers are connected to a single chat room or a chat stage 1810, theserver 120 may generate the chat log 1820 with respect to the chat stage1810. The server 120 may record information on text transmitted fromterminals of users or an action of an avatar in the chat log 1820. Whena user selects a chat log viewing interface, the server 120 may providethe chat log 1820 to the corresponding terminal. The terminal receivingthe chat log 1820 may allow a user to identify an action of the avataras shown on the screen 1700 of FIG. 17 by displaying the received chatlog 1820 on a screen.

FIG. 19 illustrates a random chat function according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. The server 120 may identify usersrequesting a random chat from among a plurality of users 1900 using thechat service. In operation 1910, the server 120 may verify an existenceof a requester for the random chat. In operation 1920, when therequester is verified to exist in the chat service (YES), a random chatroom may be created. When the requester is verified to be non-existentin the chat service (NO), the server 120 may pause and perform operation1910. The server 120 may admit users to the random chat room based on asequential order of the request for the random chat, and may control anumber of users admitted to a single random chat room. The server 120may support random chat between the users requesting random chat at asimilar timing (on or about the same time). When the number ofrequesters for the random chat is at least two in operation 1910, theserver 120 may create the random chat room in operation 1920.

FIG. 20 illustrates a chat room, a server, and a word database accordingto exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The server 120 maytransmit chat content received from terminals of users admitted to achat room 2010 to terminals of all users present in the chat room 2010.The server 120 may process an action of an avatar in response to arequest received from the terminals of the users admitted to the chatroom 2010 for the avatar to perform the action. The server 120 maytransmit a result of the processing of the action of the avatar to theterminals of all the users present in the chat room 2010.

The server 120 may include a word database 2020 or may use the worddatabase 2020 in interaction with an additional system including theword database 2020. A word that associates an action tag with an actionof an avatar may be stored in the word database 2020. The server 120 mayverify the action tag of the associated avatar by searching for acorresponding word in the word database 2020 when the stored wordincluded in the word database 2020 is included in the chat contentgenerated in the chat room 2010.

For example, a word “smile” may be stored in association with an actiontag “smiley face” in the word database 2020. When the word “smile”exists in chat content of a user A present in the chat room 2010, theserver 120 may verify the action tag “smiley face” through the worddatabase 2020. The server 120 may control an avatar of the user A toperform an action of “smiley face” for the user's avatar. A plurality ofwords may be stored in association with a single action tag in the worddatabase 2020. As such, an avatar may be controlled to express acorresponding action using an action tag without a need for a user toselect an action of the avatar directly.

FIG. 21 illustrates speech bubbles 2100 in various shapes according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. In the chat service, aspeech bubble from among the speech bubbles 2100 in various shapes maybe selected to be used based on a user preference. The speech bubble maybe transformed based on a command, such as, a keyboard command. Forexample, a speech bubble may be associated with an exclamation mark, aquestion mark, or the like. When the exclamation mark or the questionmark is included in chat content of a user, a corresponding speechbubble may be selected automatically by the application or server.

FIG. 22 illustrates speech bubbles of various shapes used according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. A screen 2200 is anexample of a screen displayed on a terminal. A first speech bubble 2210may display a speech bubble that is provided automatically based on anexclamation mark, when the exclamation mark is included in chat contentinput. A second speech bubble 2220 may display a speech bubble providedafter being directly selected by a user.

FIG. 23 illustrates an inner configuration of an avatar service systemaccording exemplary embodiments of the present invention. An avatarservice system 2300 may be a system corresponding to the server 120described in FIG. 1, and may provide an avatar service to a user. Theavatar service system 2300 may include a request receiving unit 2310, animage data selecting unit 2320, and an avatar action processing unit2330 as shown in FIG. 23.

The request receiving unit 2310 may receive a request for an avatar toperform an action from a terminal over a network. The action of theavatar may be an animation including a plurality of frames to express amotion, a facial expression, an emotion, and the like.

The image selecting unit 2320 may select image data for a plurality ofbody layers forming a body of the avatar in response to the request. Theimage selecting unit 2320 may select image data for a plurality of itemlayers disposed on the body of the avatar based on the selected imagedata. The avatar service system 2300 may select an appropriate itemlayer based on an action of the body layer and an action of an avatar.As the avatar service system 2300 selects and combines an item layerbased on the body layer selected, an issue of a broken image may beprevented when an avatar is provided in a mobile environment.

The avatar action processing unit 2330 may generate action data forapplying an action of an avatar to the avatar based on the selectedimage data, and may provide the generated action data to the terminal.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the avatar actionprocessing unit 2330 may generate an animation based on an action of anavatar by combining the selected image data for the plurality of framesthrough metadata based on the requested action of the avatar. The avataraction processing unit 2330 may provide the generated animation to aterminal as action data. The avatar service system 2300 may generate ananimation and provide the generated animation to a terminal.

The avatar action processing unit 2330 may generate, as action data,data including the selected image data and metadata based on a requestedaction of an avatar to combine the selected image data for a pluralityof frames, and may provide the generated action data to a terminal. Ananimation based on the action of the avatar may be generated, and theaction of the avatar may be processed through the generated animationbeing played via a screen of the terminal. An animation may be generatedin a terminal.

An avatar may at least include a gender property and a species property,and the species property may at least include an animal species. Theavatar service system 2300 may provide an avatar in another species,aside from a human avatar, such as the animal species. As necessary, thespecies property may include a virtual species.

The request receiving unit 2310 may receive a randomly combined requestfrom a terminal. The avatar action processing unit 2330 may generatepreview data based on at least one item layer selected at random fromitem layers included in all item layers or a category in response to therandomly combined request. The avatar action processing unit 2330 mayprovide the preview data to the terminal. The at least one item layerbeing disposed on the avatar based on the preview data may be displayedvia a screen of the terminal. A user of the terminal may be able to viewvarious items by randomly putting the various items on an avatar of theuser.

A service provided in a mobile environment may include a chat service.The avatar service system 2300 may store and maintain an image set withrespect to a user of a terminal. The avatar action processing unit 2330may include an image providing unit (not shown) that provides the imageset with respect to the user when the chat service is being provided.The provided image may be displayed on a screen of the terminal when thechat service is being executed. The chat service may display an image ofa user in a chat room together with an image of a counterpart unlike aconventional chat service displaying only the image of the counterpart.

An item layer may include a mobile device layer for providing an imagein which an avatar is represented in a vehicle. When the vehicle layeris disposed on the avatar, and an action of the avatar is set to be in“movement”, the avatar may move with the vehicle layer disposed on theavatar, on a screen of a terminal. As described in the preceding withreference to FIG. 15, an avatar may be able to perform an action or beset to be in “movement” while being represented in the vehicle. Forexample, when a service provided in a mobile environment is a chatservice, a user may perform a chat while moving an avatar represented ina mobile device in a chat room.

The image data selecting unit 2320 may further select image data withrespect to a pet set to be associated with an avatar. The avatar actionprocessing unit 2330 may generate action data further using the selectedimage data with respect to the pet.

For example, the image data selecting unit 2320 may select at least oneof a plurality of image data pre-stored with respect to a pet based onat least one of an action of an avatar, an input of a user in aterminal, and an action of a pet selected by a user in a terminal. Thepet set to be associated with the avatar may be moved or may perform anaction. A movement or an action of the pet may be determined based on anaction of, for example, an avatar, an input of a user, chat content, oran action of a pet selected by a user.

The movement or the action of the pet may be displayed on a screen ofthe terminal through an animation generated based on the action data.The action of the pet may be displayed in conjunction with the action ofthe avatar on the screen based on the action of the avatar. The movementor the action of the pet may be controlled to be displayed on the screenseparately, independent of the avatar, based on an input or a selectionof the user.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an avatar service method conductedby the avatar service system according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention. An avatar service method may be conducted by theavatar service system 2300 described in FIG. 23.

In operation 2410, the avatar service system 2300 may receive a requestfor an avatar to perform an action from a terminal. The action of theavatar may be an animation including a plurality of frames to express amotion, a facial expression, an emotion, and the like.

In operation 2420, the avatar service system 2300 may select image datafor a plurality of body layers forming a body of an avatar in responseto the request. The avatar action processing system 2300 may selectimage data for a plurality of item layers disposed on the body of theavatar based on the selected image data.

In operation 2430, the avatar service system 2300 may generate actiondata for applying an action of an avatar to the avatar based on theselected image data, and may provide the generated action data to aterminal.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the avatar servicesystem 2300 may generate an animation based on an action of an avatar bycombining the selected image data for a plurality of frames throughmetadata based on the requested action of the avatar. The avatar servicesystem 2300 may provide the generated animation to a terminal as actiondata. The avatar service system 2300 may generate an animation andprovide the generated animation to a terminal.

The avatar service system 2300 may generate, as action data, dataincluding the selected image data and metadata based on the requestedaction of an avatar to combine the selected image data for a pluralityof frames. The avatar service system 2300 may provide the generatedaction data to a terminal. An animation based on the action of theavatar may be generated based on the action data in the terminal, andthe action of the avatar may be processed through the generatedanimation being played via a screen of the terminal. An animation may begenerated in a terminal.

An avatar may at least include a gender property and a species property,and the species property may at least include one animal species. Theavatar service system 2300 may provide an avatar in another speciesaside from a human avatar, such as the animal species. As necessary, thespecies property may include a virtual species.

The avatar service system 2300 may receive a randomly combined requestfrom a terminal. The avatar service system 2300 may generate previewdata based on at least one item layer selected at random from among itemlayers included in all item layers. The avatar service system 2300 maygenerate preview data based on a category in response to the randomlycombined request, and may provide the preview data to the terminal. Theat least one item layer being disposed on the avatar based on thepreview data may be displayed via a screen of the terminal. A user ofthe terminal may be able to view various items by randomly putting thevarious items on an avatar of the user as necessary.

A service provided in a mobile environment may include a chat service.The avatar service system 2300 may store and maintain an image set withrespect to a user of a terminal, and may include providing an image set(not shown) with respect to the user to the terminal when the chatservice is being provided. The provided image may be displayed on ascreen of the terminal when the chat service is being executed. The chatservice may display an image of a user in a chat room together with animage of a counterpart unlike a conventional chat service displayingonly the image of the counterpart.

An item layer may include a mobile device layer for providing an imagein which an avatar is represented in a vehicle. When the vehicle layeris disposed on the avatar, and an action of the avatar is set to be in“movement”, the avatar may move with the vehicle layer disposed on theavatar on a screen of a terminal. As described in the preceding withreference to FIG. 15, an avatar may be able to perform an action or beset to be in “movement” while being represented in the vehicle. Forexample, when a service provided in a mobile environment is a chatservice, a user may perform a chat while moving an avatar represented ina vehicle in a chat room.

The avatar service system 2300 may further select image data withrespect to a pet set to be associated with an avatar. The avatar servicesystem 2300 may generate action data using the selected image data withrespect to the pet.

The avatar service system 2300 may select at least one of a plurality ofimage data pre-stored with respect to a pet based avatar on at least oneof an action of an avatar, an input of a user in a terminal, and anaction of a pet selected by a user in a terminal. The pet set to beassociated with the avatar may be moved or may perform an action. amovement or an action of the pet may be determined based on an actionof, for example, an avatar, an input of a user, chat content, or anaction of a pet selected by a user from among various actions of a pet.

The movement or the action of the pet may be displayed on a screen ofthe terminal through an animation generated based on the action data.The action of the pet may be displayed in conjunction with the action ofthe avatar on the screen based on the action of the avatar. The movementor the action of the pet may be controlled to be displayed on the screenseparately, independent of the avatar, based on an input or a selectionof the user.

FIG. 25 illustrates an inner configuration of a terminal according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention. A terminal 2500 may bean apparatus corresponding to the terminal 110 described in FIG. 1, andmay be an apparatus provided with an avatar in a service provided in amobile environment. The terminal 2500 may include an avatar displayingunit 2510, a request transmitting unit 2520, and a data receiving unit2530 as shown in FIG. 25.

The avatar displaying unit 2510 may display an avatar on a screen. Whena user connects to an avatar service through the terminal 2500, theterminal 2500 may receive information on an avatar of the user from aserver. The avatar displaying unit 2510 may display an avatar on ascreen based on the information on the avatar. The server may correspondto the avatar service system 2300 described in FIG. 23.

The request transmitting unit 2520 may transmit a request for an avatarto perform an action to the server. In response to the request, imagedata may be selected for a plurality of body layers forming a body of anavatar, and image data may further be selected for a plurality of itemlayers disposed on the body of the avatar based on the selected imagedata. As an item layer is selected and combined based on a selected bodylayer, an appropriate item layer may be selected based on an action ofthe body layer and an issue of a broken image may be prevented when anavatar is provided in a mobile environment.

The data receiving unit 2530 may receive action data for the action ofthe avatar from the server. The action data for applying the action ofthe avatar to the avatar may be generated based on the image dataselected in the server.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an animation based onan action of an avatar may be generated as action data by combining theselected image data for a plurality of frames through metadata based onthe requested action of the avatar. The avatar displaying unit 2510 mayprocess the action of the avatar by playing the animation received asthe action data via a screen.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, data including theselected image data and metadata based on the requested action of anavatar to combine the selected image data for a plurality of frames maybe generated in a server as action data. The terminal 2500 may furtherinclude an animation generating unit (not shown) that generates ananimation based on the action of the avatar based on the metadata andthe selected image data. The animation may be generated in the terminal2500. The avatar displaying unit 2510 may process the action of theavatar by playing the generated animation via a screen.

An avatar may at least include a gender property and a species property,and the species property may at least include an animal species. Theterminal 2500 may provide an avatar in another species aside from ahuman avatar, such as the animal species. As necessary, the speciesproperty may include a virtual species.

The request transmitting unit 2520 may further transmit a randomlycombined request to a server based on an input of a user. The datareceiving unit 2530 may receive preview data generated in the serverbased on at least one item layer selected at random from among itemlayers included in all item layers or a category in response to therandomly combined request. The avatar displaying unit 2510 may furtherdisplay the at least one item layer being disposed on the avatar basedon the preview data via a screen. The user may be able to view variousitems by randomly putting the various items on the avatar.

A service provided in a mobile environment may include a chat service.The data receiving unit 2530 may further receive an image set withrespect to a user from a server when the chat service is being provided,and the avatar displaying unit 2510 may further display the receivedimage on a screen when the chat service is being provided. The chatservice according to the exemplary embodiments of the present inventionmay display an image of the user together with an image of a counterpartin a chat room unlike a conventional chat service displaying only theimage of the counterpart.

An item layer may include a mobile device layer for providing an imagein which an avatar is represented in a vehicle. When the vehicle layeris disposed on the avatar, and an action of the avatar is set to be in“movement”, the avatar may move with the vehicle layer on a screen of aterminal. As described in the preceding with reference to FIG. 15, anavatar may be able to perform an action or be set to be in “movement”while being represented in the vehicle. When a service provided in amobile environment is a chat service, a user may perform a chat whilemoving an avatar represented in a vehicle.

Also, the image data with respect to a pet set to be associated with anavatar may further be selected in a server. Action data may be generatedin the server using the selected image data with respect to the pet.

The image data with respect to the pet may be selected from among imagedata pre-stored with respect to the pet and based on at least one of anaction of an avatar, an input of a user, and an action of the petselected by the user. The pet set to be associated with the avatar maybe moved or may perform an action. A movement or an action of the petmay be determined based on an action of, for example, an avatar, aninput of a user, chat content, or an action of a pet selected by a userfrom among various actions of a pet provided by an application installedon a terminal.

The movement or the action of the pet may be displayed on a screenthrough an animation generated based on the action data. The action ofthe pet may be displayed in conjunction with the action of the avatar onthe screen based on the action of the avatar. The movement or the actionof the pet may be controlled to be displayed on the screen separately,independent from the avatar, based on an input or a selection of theuser.

FIG. 26 illustrates an avatar service method conducted by a terminalaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The avatarservice method may be conducted through a terminal 2500 described inFIG. 25.

In operation 2610, the terminal 2500 may display an avatar on a screen.When a user connects to an avatar service through the terminal 2500, theterminal 2500 may receive information on the avatar of the user from aserver. The terminal 2500 may display the avatar on a screen based onthe information on the avatar. The server may correspond to the avatarservice system 2300 described in FIG. 23.

In operation 2620, the terminal 2500 may transmit a request for anavatar to perform an action to the server. In response to the request,image data may be selected for a plurality of body layers forming a bodyof the avatar, and image data may be selected for a plurality of itemlayers disposed on the body of the avatar based on the selected imagedata. Since an item layer is selected and combined based on the selectedbody layer, an appropriate item layer may be selected based on an actionof the body layer, an action of an avatar, such that an issue of abroken image may be prevented when the avatar is provided in a mobileenvironment.

In operation 2630, the terminal 2500 may receive action data for theaction of the avatar from the server. The action data for applying theaction of the avatar to the avatar may be generated based on the imagedata selected in the server.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an animation based onan action of an avatar may be generated as action data by combining theselected image data for a plurality of frames through metadata based onthe requested action of the avatar. The terminal 2500 may process theaction of the avatar by playing the animation received as the actiondata via a screen.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, data including theselected image data and metadata based on the requested action of theavatar to combine the selected image data for a plurality of frames maybe generated in a server as action data. The terminal 2500 may furtherinclude generating an animation (not shown) based on the action of theavatar, based on the metadata and the selected image data. An animationmay be generated in the terminal 2500. The terminal 2500 may process theaction of the avatar by playing the generated animation via a screen.

An avatar may at least include a gender property and a species property,and the species property may at least include an animal species. Theterminal 2500 may provide an avatar in another species aside from ahuman avatar, such as the animal species. As necessary, the speciesproperty may include a virtual species.

The terminal 2500 may further transmit a randomly combined request to aserver based on an input of a user. The terminal 2500 may furtherreceive preview data generated in the server based on at least one itemlayer selected at random from among item layers included in all itemlayers or a category in response to the randomly combined request. Theterminal 2500 may further display the at least one item layer beingdisposed on the avatar based on the preview data via a screen. The usermay be able to view various items by randomly putting the various itemson an avatar of the user.

A service provided in a mobile environment may include a chat service.The terminal 2500 may receive an image set with respect to a user from aserver when the chat service is being provided, and may further displaythe received image on a screen when the chat service is being provided.The chat service may display an image of the user along with an image ofa counterpart in a chat room unlike a conventional chat servicedisplaying only the image of the counterpart.

An item layer may include a mobile device layer for providing an imagein which an avatar is represented in a vehicle. When the vehicle layeris disposed on the avatar and an action of the avatar is set to be in“movement,” the avatar may move with the vehicle layer on a screen of aterminal. As described in the preceding with reference to FIG. 15, anavatar may be able to perform an action or be set to be in “movement”while being represented in the vehicle. For example, when a serviceprovided in a mobile environment is a chat service, a user may perform achat while moving an avatar represented in a vehicle in a chat room.

Also, the image data with respect to a pet set to be associated with anavatar may further be selected in a server. Action data may be generatedin the server further using the selected image data with respect to thepet.

The image data with respect to the pet may be selected from among aplurality of image data pre-stored with respect to the pet based on atleast one of an action of an avatar, an input of a user, and an actionof the pet selected by the user. The pet set to be associated with theavatar may be moved or may perform an action. In this example, amovement or an action of the pet may be determined based on an actionof, for example, an avatar, an input of a user, chat content, or anaction of a pet selected by a user from among various actions of the petprovided by an application installed on a terminal.

The movement or the action of the pet may be displayed on a screenthrough an animation generated based on the action data. For example,the action of the pet may be displayed together with the action of theavatar on the screen based on the action of the avatar. As anotherexample, the movement or the action of the pet may be controlled to bedisplayed on the screen separately, independent of the avatar, based onan input or a selection of the user.

For any descriptions omitted in FIGS. 23 to 26, reference may be made toanalogous features described in FIGS. 1 to 22.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it ispossible to store and maintain metadata for representing an action and aplurality of rotated images based on an action for a plurality of layersforming an avatar in a database respectively, and to express an actionsuch as various motions or an emotion of an avatar by providing themetadata and the plurality of rotated images suitable for the action inresponse to a request.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it ispossible to resolve an issue of a broken image due to a rotated imageand improve an overall quality of an avatar service, by formingadditional item layers for items, such as, an accessory, clothes, andthe like, to be added to an avatar, as well as layers forming a body ofthe avatar, and by generating and maintaining a plurality of rotatedimages for a plurality of additional item layers to provide theplurality of rotated images for the plurality of additional item layerssuitable for actions of layers forming the body.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it ispossible to engage an interest of the user by enabling a user to selectan avatar in a chat service and by expanding a range of maximizing theavatar, to express various emotions of the user realistically through anaction of the avatar rather than a static text-based chat, and to givevitality to chatting.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it ispossible to provide users with a service that enables a random chat withall other users through a random chat function, to verify a previouschat or an action of an avatar through an additional chat log whileusing the avatar, and to give vitality to chatting by allowing theavatar to move.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it ispossible to automatically express an action such as an emotion or amotion of an avatar by identifying a word among chat content, to providea speech bubble subject to change according to the chat content ratherthan an identical speech bubble, and to allow a user to select thespeech bubble of the user.

The exemplary embodiments according to the present invention may berecorded in non-transitory computer-readable media including programinstructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. Themedia may also include, alone or in combination with the programinstructions, data files, data structures, and the like. The media andprogram instructions may be those specially designed and constructed forthe purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kindwell-known and available to those having skill in the computer softwarearts. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such ashard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CDROM discs and DVD; magneto-optical media such as floptical discs; andhardware devices that are specially configured to store and performprogram instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random accessmemory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. Examples of programinstructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler,and files containing higher level code that may be executed by thecomputer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may beconfigured to act as one or more software modules in order to performthe operations of the above-described embodiments of the presentinvention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An avatar service system for providing an avatarin a service provided in a mobile environment, the system comprising: arequest receiving unit configured to receive a request for an avatar toperform an action; an image data selecting unit configured to selectimage data and metadata for body layers forming a body of the avatarfrom a database, in response to the request, and based on the selectedbody image data configured to further select image data and metadata foritem layers disposed on the body of the avatar from the database; and anavatar action processing unit configured to generate action data toapply the action to the avatar based on the selected image data andmetadata, wherein the metadata for body layers includes a plurality ofdifferent body layers each representing a different body part, with eachof said body layers including a plurality of rotated images in which therelevant body part is rotated about an associated control axis by aparticular angle, and further wherein said plurality of rotated imagesfor a plurality of particular angles are stored in the database.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the avatar action processing unit is furtherconfigured to combine the selected image data for frames throughmetadata to generate an animation as the action data.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the avatar action processing unit is further configuredto combine the selected image data and metadata to generate frames asthe action data.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein an animation isgenerated in a terminal based on the action data, and the terminal playsthe generated animation via a screen of the terminal.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the avatar comprises a gender property and a speciesproperty, and the species property comprises an animal species.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the request receiving unit further receives arandomly combined request comprising a category for providing previewdata, and the avatar action processing unit generates the preview databased on at least one item layer selected at random from item layersassociated with the category.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein thepreview data is displayed via a screen and the display comprises a stateof the at least one item layer being disposed on the avatar.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the service provided in the mobileenvironment comprises a chat service, and the system further comprises:an image providing unit configured to store and maintain an image setassociated with a chat user, and further configured to provide the imageset associated with the chat user to a terminal when the chat user usesthe chat service.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the provided imageset is displayed on the screen of a terminal when the chat service isbeing provided.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the itemlayers comprises a vehicle layer for representing the avatar in avehicle, and when the vehicle layer is disposed on the avatar and theaction of the avatar is indicated to be in movement, the avatar moveswith the vehicle layer on the screen of a terminal.
 11. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the image selecting unit further selects image datawith respect to a pet associated with the avatar, and the avatar actionprocessing unit generates the action data using the selected pet imagedata.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the image selecting unitselects pre-stored pet image data, based on at least one of the actionof the avatar, an input of a user, and a selected action of the pet. 13.The system of claim 11, wherein a movement or the action of the pet isdisplayed on a screen of a terminal through an animation generated withthe action data.
 14. An avatar service method to be executed on acomputer for providing an avatar in a service provided in a mobileenvironment, the method comprising: receiving a request for an avatar toperform an action; selecting, with the computer, image data and metadatafor body layers forming a body of the avatar in response to the request,and based on the selected body image data further selecting image dataand metadata with respect to item layers disposed on the body of theavatar; and generating action data for applying the action to the avatarbased on the selected image data and metadata, wherein the metadata forbody layers includes a plurality of different body layers eachrepresenting a different body part, with each of said body layersincluding a plurality of rotated images in which the relevant body partis rotated about an associated control axis by a particular angle, andfurther wherein said plurality of rotated images for a plurality ofparticular angles are stored in the database.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein the generating of the action data comprises combining theselected image data for frames through metadata based on the action ofthe avatar to generate an animation as the action data.
 16. The methodof claim 14, wherein the generating comprises combining the selectedimage data and metadata to generate frames as the action data.
 17. Anavatar service method performed by a terminal provided with an avatar ina service provided in a mobile environment, the method comprising:displaying an avatar on a screen; transmitting a request to a server forthe avatar to perform an action; and receiving action data for theaction of the avatar from the server, wherein in response to therequest, the server selects image data and metadata for body layersforming a body of the avatar, and based on the selected body image datathe server further selects image data and metadata for item layersdisposed on the body of the avatar, and the server generates action databased on the selected image data for applying the action to the avatar,wherein the metadata for body layers includes a plurality of differentbody layers each representing a different body part, with each of saidbody layers including a plurality of rotated images in which therelevant body part is rotated about an associated control axis by aparticular angle, and further wherein said plurality of rotated imagesfor a plurality of particular angles are stored in the database.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein an animation based on the action of theavatar is generated by the server by combining the selected image datafor frames through metadata.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein theaction data comprising the selected image data and the metadata based onthe requested action of the avatar the server combines the selectedimage data for frames to generate an animation as the action data.
 20. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored thereon acomputer program that, when executed by a terminal comprising a displayand one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to performacts that provide an avatar in a service in a mobile environment, theacts comprising: displaying an avatar on a screen; transmitting arequest to a server for the avatar to perform an action; and receivingaction data for the action of the avatar from the server, wherein inresponse to the request, the server selects image data and metadata forbody layers forming a body of the avatar, and based on the selected bodyimage data the server further selects image data and metadata for itemlayers disposed on the body of the avatar, and the server generatesaction data based on the selected image data for applying the action tothe avatar, wherein the metadata for body layers includes a plurality ofdifferent body layers each representing a different body part, with eachof said body layers including a plurality of rotated images in which therelevant body part is rotated about an associated control axis by aparticular angle, and further wherein said plurality of rotated imagesfor a plurality of particular angles are stored in the database.